Paddle Sports:

From calm pools to white water, this sport offers challenge and excitement. Whether you are paddling on our own private Lake, out in the sea or down a river, you will have a fantastic time in your boat! Our instructors will ensure that you are safe and well cared for, will give you tips and pointers, and usually have some exciting games planned to build your confidence. We have a varied fleet of paddle craft to suit all ages and abilities and can offer tailor made sessions, from fun taster sessions, to intensive coaching.

Taster Sessions

Outdoor Adventure Warehouse can provide a variety of different taster sessions at a variety of different locations! We have a small lake at our centre which is used for a basic introduction to Paddlesports as well as using other venues around Sussex to deliver courses. These can be tailored to any requirements, whether school or youth groups, families wanting to try something new or stag and hen parties. A selection of different canoes and kayaks are available.

Course Fees: POA.

Paddle Power

Paddlepower is an exciting scheme that has been designed to meet the needs of young people. It’s colourful and youth centred approach aims to: 

• • Encourage more young people to come into and stay in the sport
• • Provide progression and reward achievement in a wide range of topics
• • Show them all aspects of the sport – both competitive and adventurous
• • Provide signposts into Clubs where their skills and development can be nurtured
• • Provide a flexible structure for delivery according to venue/situation

The scheme has recently been revised and now comprises of 5 Awards to support a young  paddler’s introduction and progress in Paddlesport.

The Paddlepower Awards:

Paddlepower Start

An entry level award suitable for taster sessions or as part of a series of sessions.

Paddlepower Passport

Four progressive levels based on 24 topics which can be grouped into Safety Awareness, Paddling Skills, Varied Experiences, and Supporting Knowledge. The award is equivalent to 1 Star.

Paddlepower Discover

This follows on from Passport with a further 4 levels to take the young paddler to equivalent of 2 star standard.

Paddlepower Explore

Three different levels take the paddler on an extensive journey exploring the great variety Paddlesport, with topics focused on participation in events and journeys in the competitive and non-competitive disciplines.

Paddlepower Excel

Three levels to test the paddler on all elements of paddlesport including being responsible for self and others, participation in journeys, coaching sessions, training, events/competitions in a variety of disciplines, background knowledge of the sport; access, rules, environmental, nutrition and goal setting.

Course Fees: POA.

Star Awards

BCU 1Star Award

A Flat water award that demonstrates an individual has basic boat control and foundation skills. The one star can be taken in any kind of paddlesport craft (e.g. sit-on-top, slalom C2, polo boat, sea kayak, racing canoe etc

BCU 2 Star Award

An improvement award that helps paddlers develop fundamental paddlesport skills on flat water. The emphasis is on gaining a breadth of experience, creating the desired movement of the boat and developing an understanding into how the paddle, boat and water interact.
This award is significantly different to the old 2 star, with a change to develop generic movement skills that can transfer to any discipline and with an assessed journey. Assessors will need to be able to assess the award in a variety of craft.

BCU 3 Star Awards

Successful performance at this level indicates that a candidate can consider themselves an intermediate paddler rather than a beginner. Unlike the existing award this will be discipline specific with awards in Sea, Surf, Canoe, White Water Kayak, Flat Water Kayak and some of the competitive disciplines. The three star paddler will be a competent performer in sheltered to moderate water environments and have the ability to paddle unsupervised, with similar standard paddlers on sheltered water. The new award will look similar in structure to the existing 4 star, but with the skills applicable in an easier environment.

 Course Fees: POA.

River Trips

Outdoor Adventure Warehouse can tailor river trips to suit you and your group requirements. We can provide experienced coaches for day, weekend or week trips. We can also act as agents to create a course, arrange transport and accommodation and supply equipment to take the pressure away from you.

 Course Fees: POA.

   Foundation Safety and Rescue Training (FSRT)

This course aims to provide the student with the key safety and rescue skills required to operate
safely in a sheltered water environment and to be able to deal with common emergencies. These skills will then form the basis of all safety and rescue training throughout the BCU Scheme.

The course has two purposes:

1. To provide the paddler with the necessary skills which will enable them to ensure the safety of themselves and others.

2. To provide the paddler with the appropriate rescue skills that can be used to help themselves and /or others in difficulty.

Course Fees: £75.00 per person / Group prices on request

   UKCC (UK Coaching Certifcate)  Level 1 Coach

This is the first step on the paddlesport coaching pathway. It will introduce you to the fundamentals of good coaching practice and help you to understand and coach technical and tactical aspects of your sport.

If you want to encourage others into paddlesport or help existing paddlers to improve their skills then this is the award for you. You could be someone with family members involved in paddlesport, someone wanting a career instructing in the outdoor industry, or an experienced paddler wanting to move into coaching. As the award is either bank-based or boat-based it is accessible for anyone interested in coaching paddlesport.

As a Level 1 Coach you can deliver sessions in any type of kayak/canoe. You can assist higher level Coaches, delivering coaching sessions under their supervision, and deliver taster sessions.

Clubs and centres can task Level 1 Coaches to run taster sessions at specific venues unsupervised if they deem it suitable. They will need to provide an appropriate site specific induction.

As a Level 1 Coach you can deliver and assess Paddlesport and Paddlepower Start Awards.

The new award focuses on coach education and the coaching process. This allows you to develop and deliver sessions based around your students’ needs. In this aspect it is more similar to the ‘old’ Level 2 Training than the ‘old’ Level 1. This produces a broader award, helping both you and your future students.

Prerequisites:

You need to:
• be 16 years old or over
• have an interest in paddlesport and be keen to learn more
• have completed a BCU Canoe Safety Test or Foundation Safety & Rescue Training
• hold a BCU 2 Star Award (only if you’re opting for the boat-based award)
The safety & star awards may be included within the Level 1 course itself (see below).

What is a Level 1 Coach course?

It is a combined course which includes both training and assessment. This normally involves 4 days (32hours) of contact time (5, if the prerequisite safety training is included). This can be run consecutively or in modular form using evenings/weekends. Basically, whatever format suits the deliverer and the candidates.

The course introduces the foundation concepts of good coaching practice including session planning, delivery and review, and safe practice, along with top tips, games and activities to use in your sessions. The aim is for you to gain the confidence, skills and techniques you need to encourage and improve your students.

The UKCC was introduced to improve the quality and consistency of coach education across all sports. This means that new BCU Level 1 Coaches will have greater recognition within the UK sports industry, as well as within paddlesport.

Course Fee: £210.00 per person / Group Prices on request

All of these courses can be tailored to meet your needs. Please do contact us to discuss cost and availability

Course applicants, please call:

0845 0946295 (local rate) or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Alternately, fill out and return the following expression of interest form